What the Man of Law may have appeared as in Chaucer's story,
A modern day version of a Man of Law.
Summary of The Man of Law's Tale:
The tale begins on the eighteenth day of April. The tale tells of romance and what man will do to achieve love. A company of traders heads from Syria to Rome. When they arrive they meet Custance, a Christian. They return to their homeland and tell the Sultan about her. After hearing marvelous things about this princess the Sultan wishes to marry her. However, for the two to bewed the Sultan must convert to Christianity because the Emperor will not allow his daughter to marry a Muslim. After they marry the newlyweds go back to Syria. When the Sultan's mother finds out she plans to kill the girl by holding a feast upon which all of the attendees will be killed. Custance survives and is sent back to her home. She is put aboard a boat with only food but no navigation.
After years of living on the boat it crashes upon the shores of Northcumberland. A warden finds her there and Custance will not tell them who she is. Eventually they discover her identity and change from pagan worshipers to Christians because they are afraid. Later a knight from Northcumberland falls in love with her. However she denies his attempts to please her and out of rage he frames her for murder. When they scene of the murder was found the knight immediately blamed Custance. Custance knew she was innocent but she was sentenced to death. She then prays for a miracle and the king of Northcumberland hears her prayers. He then asks the knight to swear on the bible that Custance is guilty. Upon doing so the knight is immediately struck down and dies.
When the king witnesses this power of God he changes to Christianity. Alla then marries her and they have a child named Mauritius. Alla's mother changes the actual content of letters sent back and forth between Custance and Alla. When Alla comes home from Scotland he finds that Custance is already gone due to the changing of Alla's letters. Custance is aboard another ship in a foreign country when a steward attempts to rape her but is drowned from the ship due to Custance's faith.
Then the story returns to a time of war due to the massacre of Christian men at the great feast that Custance escaped from. On the way to fight the Sultan a senator from Rome meets Custance and takes her back home. Alla at the same time goes to Rome to come to terms with his mother's death and the loss of his wife. The senator eats with Alla and Mauritius whom the senator thinks he recognizes. Everyone is then reunited and Custance and Alla return to England together and Mauritius eventually becomes emperor of Rome.
Physical Appearance:
The Man of the Law wears a homely parti coat (many colored). Tied with a pin stripe belt made of silk.
Occupation: The Man of the Law is a lawyer appointed by the monarch to serve as a judge. Social Standing: As far as his social standing it only says "his high position". Also he has to be quite important ,for the fact that the monarch specifically choose him to be a judge. Personality Traits:
The Man of the Law is described to have noted excellence and a man of reverence ( respect mingled with fear for a spiritual being or place). Wary in his actions and considerably wise, and he was always discreet.
Chaucer's Feelings Toward The Man of the Law:
We believe that Chaucer has a profound amount of respect for The Man of the Law. Chaucer believes that The Man of the Law worked hard for what he had accomplished, in his education and fame. He earned his high position through a descreet demeanor, but was always humble through his way of life.
The Man of Law
Summary of The Man of Law's Tale:
The tale begins on the eighteenth day of April. The tale tells of romance and what man will do to achieve love. A company of traders heads from Syria to Rome. When they arrive they meet Custance, a Christian. They return to their homeland and tell the Sultan about her. After hearing marvelous things about this princess the Sultan wishes to marry her. However, for the two to bewed the Sultan must convert to Christianity because the Emperor will not allow his daughter to marry a Muslim. After they marry the newlyweds go back to Syria. When the Sultan's mother finds out she plans to kill the girl by holding a feast upon which all of the attendees will be killed. Custance survives and is sent back to her home. She is put aboard a boat with only food but no navigation.
After years of living on the boat it crashes upon the shores of Northcumberland. A warden finds her there and Custance will not tell them who she is. Eventually they discover her identity and change from pagan worshipers to Christians because they are afraid. Later a knight from Northcumberland falls in love with her. However she denies his attempts to please her and out of rage he frames her for murder. When they scene of the murder was found the knight immediately blamed Custance. Custance knew she was innocent but she was sentenced to death. She then prays for a miracle and the king of Northcumberland hears her prayers. He then asks the knight to swear on the bible that Custance is guilty. Upon doing so the knight is immediately struck down and dies.
When the king witnesses this power of God he changes to Christianity. Alla then marries her and they have a child named Mauritius. Alla's mother changes the actual content of letters sent back and forth between Custance and Alla. When Alla comes home from Scotland he finds that Custance is already gone due to the changing of Alla's letters. Custance is aboard another ship in a foreign country when a steward attempts to rape her but is drowned from the ship due to Custance's faith.
Then the story returns to a time of war due to the massacre of Christian men at the great feast that Custance escaped from. On the way to fight the Sultan a senator from Rome meets Custance and takes her back home. Alla at the same time goes to Rome to come to terms with his mother's death and the loss of his wife. The senator eats with Alla and Mauritius whom the senator thinks he recognizes. Everyone is then reunited and Custance and Alla return to England together and Mauritius eventually becomes emperor of Rome.
Physical Appearance:
The Man of the Law wears a homely parti coat (many colored). Tied with a pin stripe belt made of silk.
Occupation: The Man of the Law is a lawyer appointed by the monarch to serve as a judge.
Social Standing:
As far as his social standing it only says "his high position". Also he has to be quite important ,for the fact that the monarch specifically choose him to be a judge. Personality Traits:
The Man of the Law is described to have noted excellence and a man of reverence ( respect mingled with fear for a spiritual being or place). Wary in his actions and considerably wise, and he was always discreet.
Chaucer's Feelings Toward The Man of the Law:
We believe that Chaucer has a profound amount of respect for The Man of the Law. Chaucer believes that The Man of the Law worked hard for what he had accomplished, in his education and fame. He earned his high position through a descreet demeanor, but was always humble through his way of life.